Simsbury first selectman to seek anti-diversion legislation, as Farmington River future uncertain

SIMBURY >> John Hampton, Simsbury Deputy First Selectman and newly-elected 16th district state representative, said he may seek legislation to make it harder to divert water from the Farmington River. Hampton's pursuit of anti-diversion legislation comes in the wake of a bid by the Metropolitan District Commission to divert water from the Farmington River to supply water to the University of Connecticut.

"I will be submitting my own letter," Hampton said Dec. 21 at town hall. "I am concerned about a lack of transparency in the process, and am concerned about the environmental impact. And, I am going to see what I can do legislatively to make it harder for UConn to take our water."

In early December, First Selectman Mary Glassman sent a letter on behalf of the town to the university, citing displeasure that the town had not received direct notification, and over the lack of a public hearing in the area of the Farmington Valley towns most affected. Up to 1.93 million gallons of water daily could be diverted to the Mansfield area and UConn. At that point public comment on the matter was slated to close on Dec. 21. It was subsequently extended to Jan. 4, 2013.

Hampton also spoke of what he described as a "gag order," which, in exchange for a promise of limited use of the Farmington River by the MDC, was agreed to by the Farmington River Watershed Association. The order bars the association, well-known as a vocal activist for the river, from speaking out against a plan by the MDC to build a 20-mile pipeline to bring millions of gallons of needed water to UConn's Storrs campus.

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"The gag order was signed in 1998," said Hampton.

Nonetheless, Hampton said others are able to speak up in opposition to the plan. And, Hampton said he plans to meet with various groups.

The MDC supplies its eight member towns with water, in addition to two other metro district suburbs. They include Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, Windsor, West Hartford and Wethersfield.

For its part, UConn is said to be looking for a solution to a water shortage issue is has experienced in the past and a need to generate more millions of gallons of water a day to the main campus of the state's flagship university.